Skin phototypes of a Maltese sample population

Authors: Aquilina, S; Gauci, AA¹; Boffa, MJ²

Source: Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology & Venereology, Volume 21, Number 9, October 2007 , pp. 1239-1243(5)

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

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Abstract:

Background and aim

Skin phototyping is a clinical classification system based on a patient's historical reporting of the acute skin response to sunlight. We carried out a simple study to estimate the skin phototypes of the Maltese people in order to acquire more information on the relative risk of the general Maltese population to sun burning and to the more chronic effects of sun exposure, including photoaging and skin cancers. Method

A consultant dermatologist and dermatology trainees determined the skin phototype of patients seen with skin infections or skin tags at dermatology outpatients in Malta by carrying out a short interview. Results

Data were collected on 756 patients. The commonest reported skin phototype in both sexes was type III (48.0% overall; 52.4% in males, 43.8% in females); this was followed by type IV in males (30.4%) and type II in females (32.3%). Only 1.2% of the total was of skin type I. Conclusion

Approximately one half of the Maltese population is at moderate risk of sun damage; about one quarter is at low risk; and the other quarter is at high risk, the latter group needing more thorough sun avoidance and better surveillance for skin tumours. Social desirability can influence responses to such questionnaires and might have contributed to the difference between males and females noted in our study.

Keywords: Fitzpatrick skin phototypes; Malta; skin cancer risk factors; sun susceptibility; sunburn threshold

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-3083.2007.02248.x

Affiliations: 1: Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, University of Malta Medical School, Malta 2: Department of Dermatology, University of Malta Medical School, Sir Paul Boffa Hospital, Floriana, Malta

Publication date: 2007-10-01

Skin phototypes of a Maltese sample population

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